Light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson to face Eleider Alvarez in December

It is official. Adonis Stevenson will face Eleider Alvarez for the WBC light heavyweight world title in December, it was confirmed at the WBC convention in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to a tweet from the World Boxing Council, the bout is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16. Meanwhile, GYM, Stevenson's promoter, said in an Instagram post that the date would be confirmed when “we can coordinate the date of Showtime with the availability of an amphitheater in Quebec.”

That venue would most likely be Bell Centre. Centre Videotron, the arena located in Quebec City, where Stevenson knocked out Thomas Williams Jr. in 2016, also has an amphitheater. However, according to its schedule posted online, Cirque du Soleil is slated to perform on the expected fight date.

It’s been a long time coming for Alvarez (23-0, 11 KO’s), 33, a Columbian native fighting out of Montreal, who has been Stevenson’s mandatory challenger since his victory over Isaac Chilemba in November 2015.

“Eleider Alvarez has been waiting for his chance for two years. He worked hard,” said Bernard Barré of TVA Sports. “It’s going to be an electrifying battle.”

Alvarez, who currently holds the WBC Silver light heavyweight title, has picked up notable victories in his past two fights, including a KO of former world champion Lucian Bute, and a majority decision win over former titleholder Jean Pascal.

The 40-year-old Stevenson (29-1, 24 KO’s) quickly disposed of Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara inside two rounds last June and is seeking the ninth defense of his WBC title. He earned the belt with a first-round, one-punch knockout of former world champion Chad Dawson in 2013.